Some highlights from this experience:
- - An account I picked up last week on a second visit, that I was sure I would never get, but followed up anyway. When entering the store the manager gave me the same story he had the week before about how he already had a window cleaner, and was not in need of my services, though he used other words that were not as nice. I looked at how dirty the windows were behind me, and was bold enough to ask how often his other provider was coming by, and if he had seen him this winter? He told me he comes every week. That made me mad inside, as I could see the windows had not been cleaned in some time, or their washer was doing a terrible job. I remained calm, and politely asked if I could do a free clean for him to prove to him that our service would be better. He flippantly agreed to the free clean, almost as if to say if you want to waste your time go ahead. I went outside, and started cleaning this small $5 store front. Not even 2 minutes later as I was nearly done with the clean, the manager came out in a much better mood. He paid me my $5 and signed on for every other week service on the outside, and 1x per month service on the inside. He said he appreciated the way I handled myself, and my willingness to follow up, even though our first meeting he didn't give me the time of day.
- - Yesterday at the office we got a phone call from a card I had dropped off 3 weeks ago, and had not yet had an opportunity to follow up on. Usually this means we would not get an account, as rarely do people call from a card you have left. It was from a small Dental center. The store is closed to patients on Wednesday's, and they wanted to know if we could come do a one time in/out clean for the price I had previously written on the back of the card? I told them I'd be in the area the next day, which was today 2-24-10. I met the owner at his store in the afternoon, and performed this one time clean. Half way through the clean, he too signed up for every other week in/out service ($10 each time).
- - Last one, two weeks ago I picked up a small pizza shop that used to be a Domino's but went out of business. A couple of the employees stayed on to open their own place. This was my third visit on three consecutive weeks before we came to an agreement on having the windows done. The interesting twist on this one is that due to the business being very new, they are holding their finances very tightly, but want to look good as they grow the business. I have agreed to an in/out cleaning each week (quoted $10), in exchange for either a large pizza (which by the way their pizza is great), or a sandwich and drink of my choice, until they have the financial stability to pay me. This will be a forty dollar a month pickup for 5 minutes of my time each week. In the mean time, I get a free lunch every Wednesday, while I'm down in Hickory Hills. I have already shared half a pizza with one of our great contractors one week, who met me down there while I was finishing up washing. Let me know if your ever in the area on Wednesday and want to share one with me.
The reason I have told this tale is to encourage everyone that our business model is still viable. I have put good effort into building this route, though I do not think I have done anything extraordinary. Some people seem to have the gift of doing sales, and I do not consider myself one of those people.
Still with a little hard work, and good follow up it seems that even in this slumping economy it is possible to build up a window washing route. Besides, you all stand to gain something I do not qualify for each, the $100 prize for our ongoing contest, not to mention the new money from the new accounts you pick up.
Keep checking in on our blog, to monitor my progress as I try to build up this route, and some day pass it on to one of our great contractors!!! ----Dennis
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